LOCAL

House fire that killed 3 brothers likely was accidental, electrical in nature

Ken Palmer Kara Berg
Lansing State Journal

LANSING - A fire that killed three young brothers and left four other family members injured was likely an accidental electrical fire, fire officials said. 

Assistant Fire Chief Michael Tobin said when crews arrived at the home, in the 2000 block of New York Avenue, flames had burst through all the windows on the first floor and several on the second. 

Firefighters rushed into the house to save the three boys — Juan Zavala, 8, Ramiro Zavala, 5, and Manolo Zavala, 3 — who were trapped in the house, Tobin said. None of the boys had a pulse when they were pulled out of the burning building, he said, and firefighters weren't able to resuscitate them. All the boys were removed from the home within seven minutes of crews arriving

The boys had been trying to escape from the house, Tobin said. One was near the front window, another was in the hall heading for the front door and another was in the rear kitchen area near a back door. 

"This is one of those calls that sticks with you, not just the rest of your career, but the rest of your life," Tobin said. "It will take some time."

Manolo Zavala, 3, Ramiro Zavala, 5, and Juan Zavala, 8, were killed in a house fire Oct. 30, 2019, in the 2000 block of New York Avenue in northern Lansing.

Less than two days after the fire, well-wishers had donated more than $33,000 to help the stricken family. 

Of the four injured in the blaze, two have been released from the hospital: 26-year-old Alyssa Wallace and her 18-month-old daughter. A 5-year-old girl and 31-year-old man were taken to the University of Michigan Burn Center. The child remains in critical condition and the man in serious condition. 

Firefighters were called to the house near Lake Lansing Road, shortly after 1:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Injured family members were outside reporting that three children were still inside the home. 

The family's dog also died in the fire, which remains under investigation, officials said.

The fire department has a critical incident stress management team working with crews Thursday, Tobin said. 

Check back for updates.

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Contact reporter Kara Berg at 517-377-1113 or kberg@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @karaberg95. Contact Ken Palmer at (517) 377-1032 or kpalmer@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @KBPalm_lsj.